Drawer release mechanism



y 1932- J. Q. SHERMAN 1,856,971

DRAWER RELEASE] MECHANI SM Filed May 15, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l gnumdopElm: we

y 1932- J. SHERMAN 1,856,971

DRAWER RELEASE MECHANI SM Filed May 15, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 9% & am B-ivvpm at to: s L011 MayS, 1932. J. Q. SHERMAN 1,856,971

DRAWER RELEAS E MECHANl SM Filed May 13, 1926- 3 SheetsSheet 3fjwvento'c MM Q QMW Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN Q. SHERMAN,F DAYTON, OHIO DRAWER RELEASE MECHANISM Application filed May 13, 1926.Serial No. 108,839.

This invention relates to cash registers and more particularly to meansfor releasing the normally locked cash drawer by means of a drawerrelease, or no sale key, without the necessity of actuating any of themechanism controlled by the value keys or selective mechanism.

While it is quite customary to provide in a cash register or likemechanism, a no sale or cash drawer release key, which will disengagethe drawer and locking detent without necessity of operating any one ofthe value keys or selection devices, the detent releasing means oractuator in such constructions is usually common to both the selectiveor value keys and the no sale or drawer re lease key. That is to say, asusually constructed, the value or selective key and the no sale ordrawer release key, both operated through the same train of mechanism,or through the same intermediary devices in effecting the disengagementof the cash drawer detent. It sometimes happens, however, that the cashregister mechanism becomes accidentally' disarranged or out of order andinoperative. When such accident or disarrangement, rendering themechanism inoperative occurs while the cash drawer is closed, themerchant has no way of access to the contents of the cash drawer. hensuch conditions have occurred, they have been a matter ofgreat'inconvenience and annoyance, and necessitate the services of anexpert cash register mechanic to enable the removal of the money withinthe cash drawer.

The present invention is intended to overcome this difficulty by makingthe cash drawer at all times accessible to the operation of the no saleor drawer release keys. inclependent of the release means controlled bythe value key or selector mechanism. As ordinarily constructed, the keycoupler bar of a cash register mechanism is common to both the no saleor drawer release key and the "value key, and such coupler bar eitherdirectly or indirectly controls the cash drawer detent. The presentconstruction, while this mode of operation is followed so far as itpertains to the value or selective key, the no sale or drawer releasekey is arranged entirely independently of the key coupler bar, and ashift rod wholly independent of the key coupler bar or other parts ofthe register mechanism serves to connect the no sale key with the cashdrawer detent. There is thus provided two entirely independent trains ofcontrol mechanism for the cash drawer detent, one of which passes fromthe value or selective'keys through the register mechanism, and theother of which passes from the no sale or drawer release key to thedetent wholly independent of the register mechanism.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well as themeans and mode of operation, of cash drawer release mech anism, wherebysuch constructions will not only be cheapened in manufacture, but willbe more eflicient in operation, positive in action, easily operated andunlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide an independent means forreleasing the cash drawer in the event that the register mechanismshould be accidentally or otherwise rendered inoperative.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of cashdrawer detent release controlled by a no sale or cash drawer releasekey.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter de scribed and setforth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred,but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a cash registerassembly, illustrating the relative relation and operation of the detentrelease parts. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of an assembledcash register, showing the relation of the operating keys and the detentreleasing devices. Fi g. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 33 ofFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of theno sale key.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the cabinet or case of aconventional type of key lever computing machine.

Mounted upon a transversely arranged shaft 3 is a series of depressibleoscillatory key levers 4. These key levers 4 extend rearwardly, and upondepression of their forward ends are adapted to elevate to view thecorresponding indicators 5. In the upper portion of the apparatus arelocated counter wheels'6, actuated by oscillatory segments 7 mountedupon the main shaft 3. These oscillatory actuating segments 7 have ontheir peripheries, gear teeth 8, intermeshing with a corresponding gearpinion 9, operatively connected with the counter wheels 6. The series ofkeys 44 are divided into three groups pertaining to units, tens andhundreds, or cents, dimes and dollars, and those keys of each group areidentified by numbers 1 to 9, corresponding to their monetary value, ordenom nation. An actuating segment 7 is provided for each group orseries of keys. Likewise, there is provided for each group or series of.keys, a separate key cam unit 10. mounted for oscillation about atransverse shaft 11. This cam unit is provided with a cam surface 12,for each of the operating keys 4 of the series. The cam fingers 12, aresimilarly shaped and arranged in steps or echelon relation. Each of theoperating keys 4 carries a laterally extending stud or roller 13, havingengagement with the corresponding cam face or finger 12 of the cam unit.The contour and relative position of the cam surfaces or fingers 12 ofthe unit, are such that upon depression of different keys of the series,the engagement of the corre sponding studs or rollers 13 with therelated cam surfaces or fingers 12 effect oscillat on of the key camunits to different degree. Thus the operation of the nine key willoscillate the key cam unit to much greater extent than will thedepression of a one, two or three key. Each key cam unit is providedwith an inwardly extending rock arm 14. which has operative engagementin the bifurcat on 15 of an arm or plate 16, either connected directlyto one of the actuating segments 7 or mounted upon the main shaft 3 andconnected to its actuating segment by a yoke or tie 17. The constructionis such that upon the depression of a selected key of the series, thekey cam unit is oscillated proportionately to the value of the depressedkey and through the interconnection of the rock arm 14, with the arm orplate 16, it effects a corresponding oscillation of the actuatingsegment 7, which being in intermeshing engagement with the gear pinion9, serves to proportionately actuate the counter mechanism. The gearsegments 7 oscillate rearwardly or toward the right in Fig. 1, duringthis operative movement under the influence of the depression of a keylever 4. Extending transversely of and common to all of the value keys44, is a key coupler bar 19, pivoted at 20 eccentrically with the keyshaft 3; This key coupler bar 19 rests upon the key bars 44, and isoscillated about its pivotal centers 20by the operation of any one ormore of the value keys. Its normal purpose is to engage in a notch orrecess 21, in the operated keys to interconnect such keys, one withanother, for unison movement. As thus far described, the construction isthat of a conventional cash register mechanism, so far as is necessaryfor the disclosure of the relation and operation of the presentinvention.

The cash drawer 2 is mounted for reciprocatory sliding movement in themain frame. It is normally locked in its retracted position by a detentplunger 23, vertically movable in suitable hearings in the frame bar 24under the influence of a spring 25 into engagement with the detent plateor catch 26, carried upon the rear end of the drawer. Upon thedisengagement of the plunger stem 23 from the catch plate 26, by beingelevated against the tension of the spring 25, the drawer is actuatedforwardly by the drawer spring 27. Provision is made for lifting theplunger 23 to release the drawer, by the operation of any one of thevalue keys. This may be effected by an operative connection with anysuitable port-ion or moving part of the register mechanism, and hasheretofore been accomplished in numerous ways. In the present instance,the upper end of the detent plunger 23 is shown provided with alaterally extending pin 28, which overhangs the coupler bar 19, and isengaged thereby as the key coupler approaches the upper limit of itsstroke, under the influence of any one of the value keys. Thisengagement of the key coupler bar with the pin 28 lifts the detentplunger 27 and releases the cash drawer. In the drawings, the keycoupling bar 19 has been shown provided medially with a notch 29,through which the detent plunger 23 projects.

In the usual cash register construction, there is provided a no salekey, or a special key, the operation of which serves to re-.

lease the cash drawer, without however, op-

crating the registering or computing mechanism. This special keyoperates a counter, which determines the times the cash drawer is openedwithout manipulation of the register mechanism. Usually, such special orno sale key operates the cash drawer detent through the same train ofmechanism or through the same intermediate element as the value key 4-4.That is to say, such special or no sale key would ordinarily be arrangedto operate the key coupler bar 19 in the same manner as the value keysto effect the release of the drawer. In event, however, that theregister mechanism becomes disabled or disarranged, in such manner thatthe key coupler bar 19 becomes inoperative or locked, in suchconstruction, the special or no sale key would be rendered ineffectualto release the cash drawer. To overco is this difiiculty means isprovided for opening the cash drawer even though the register mechanismbe rendered inoperative including the key coupler bar by which thedetent plunger is raised. Provision is made for operating the detentplunger from the no sale or special key, through an entirely independentoperative connection. In the drawings, the no sale or special key isshown at the right hand end of the series of value keys tl as at 80.This no sale or special drawer release key is mounted upon the mainshaft 3 concentric with the value keys l, but unlike the value keys, ithas no operative engagement with the key coupler bar 19. While the endof the key coupler bar which rests upon the key levers l--l extendsabove the inner or rear end of the special or no sale key 30, such keyis extended downwardly in the form of a bight beneath the coupler bar 19to such extent that the key 30 may be operated without coming in contactwith the bar 19. At its rear end, beyond the key coupler bar 19, thespecial or no sale key 30 is provided with an elongated slot 32,substantially concentric with the axis of oscillation of the key lever30 upon the shaft 3. The rod 33 extends through such slot 32 in thespecial key 30 and has one end of such rod engaged within a suitablerecess or opening in the frame of the machine, while the other end ofthe rod is engaged with the detent plunger 23, preferably by extendingloosely within a transverse hole in the plunger. The engagement of theend of the rod with the frame of the machine is also a loose engagementwhich permits a vertical movement of the rod in unison with thereciprocation of the detent plunger. The elongated slot 32 enables thespecial or no sale key 30 to be oscillated freely throughout the majorportion of its stroke. However, as the special key 30 approaches thelimit of its operative movement, the end of the slot 82 comes inengagement with the shift rod 33, and by continuous movement of thespecial key lever 30, this shift rod 88, is elevated to lift the plungerdetent 23 out of engagement with the cash drawer catch 26, whollyindependent of the operation of the key coupler bar 19, which remains atrest. Connected to the special key lever 30 is a link 34, which servesto operate aspecial counter upon which is registered the number of timesthe drawer is opened by the manipulation of this key. At its rear endthe special key actuates the target or indicator 5. In fact this specialor no sale key performs all of its usual functions in a cash registermechanism, the clifference being that it is connected to the drawerdetent wholly independent of the remaining register mechanism, so thatthe drawer may be released, although the selective and registeringmechanism may be incapacitated.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantages before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrange ment of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or scarificing any of 1ts advantages.

'While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdetails shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of itsforms or modifications withln the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a cash register or the like wherein a cash drawer is provided witha detent operatively connected with a movable bar arranged transverselyof a series of value key keylevers and actuated by any key lever of theseries to disengage the detent from the drawer characterized by anadditional key lever having therein a clearance recess in which the baris received upon operation of the said additional key lever permittingthe operation of the last mentioned key lever wit iout operating saidbar, and an operative connection between the last mentioned key leverand the drawer detent wholly independent of the operative connectionbetween the detent and the value keys.

2. A cash register or the like, wherein a cash drawer is provided with alocking detent operatively connected with a key coupler bar common to aseries of value keys, whereby the detent is disengaged by the operationof any key of such series, characterized by a no sale key lever havingtherein a dependent bight afiording clearance for the key coupler barwhen the no sale key is operated, whereby the key coupler bar will beunaffected thereby, said no sale key having a slot therein, an actuatingrod having operative engagement with the drawer detent and extendingthrough said slot, said key being operative independent of said rodWithin the limit of the slot, the end of the slot engaging the rod asthe key approaches the limit of its stroke, to actuate the rod andeffect the disengagement of the detent from the drawer. In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, A. D. 1926.JOHN Q. SHERMAN.

